How Do I Know Which Apps Are Running

As tough as it can be to get motivated to run indoors, sometimes life makes running outside downright impossible (see: coronavirus outbreak, blazing wildfires, and crappy weather). But there are benefits to running on a treadmill, even for the most diehard outdoor runners among us. And with the right tools, you can cut all that "dreadmill" talk and discover that indoor running can really be something you look forward to.

If you need more motivation, these treadmill workout apps bring access to the best coaches, group camaraderie, friendly competition, and courses you've never even dreamed of running right to your fingertips. Download your fave, power on that treadmill, and watch the miles fly by.

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Best Treadmills for Runners

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NordicTrack Commercial 2950

A 22" screen displays beautiful video and interactive coaching

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Woodway 4Front

A new entertainment screen lets you watch Netflix on your long runs

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NordicTrack C 990

Run virtual courses and get interactive coaching without breaking the bank

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Landice L8 Cardio treadmill

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The quietest treadmill we've tested also changes speeds quickly.

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1. Nike+ Run Club

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Within the Nike+ Run Club app's 50-plus guided runs—some of which are led by Nike all-stars (think: Eliud Kipchoge and Shalane Flanagan)—you can choose from six running workouts specifically designed for the treadmill. They are 15 to 30 minutes in duration and come with audio instructions—for everything from pace and incline settings to encouraging tips.

One of the most attractive features for those motivated by music is the Spotify integration that allows you to lay the coach's cues over your favorite playlist, so you aren't stuck listening to random music that doesn't motivate you. You can also play music from a curated Apple Music playlist, your own, or play audiobooks and podcasts during your workout. Pro tip: Outside of the treadmill-specific audio-guided runs, you can use almost any of the other 50 runs indoors, you'll just have to know your own paces/speeds to align with the cues.

iTunes and Google Play ; free

2. Peloton Digital

Even without Peloton's fancyAF treadmill, runners can choose from 175-plus Tread Studio live and on-demand running classes that range from 10 to 60 minutes long and cover everything from hill runs and fun runs to interval runs and fastest miles, and new content is added regularly. Run along with instructors like Robin Arzon, Rebecca Kennedy, and Matty Maggiacomo, who stream live from the treadmills; if you're running with them in real-time, they might even give you a shout out. FYI: All of the classes are set to playlists pre-created by the instructors, so you're stuck with their tunes, but you can filter through music type when choosing your class.

iTunes and Google Play ; free 14-day trial, $12.99 for a monthly membership (free with Peloton membership)

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3. Studio

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For people who can't get to boutique treadmill studios, Studio brings them to you. Classes, which last 10 to 60 minutes, are geared towards everyone from those who've never ran a mile to regular marathoners; new options are added every day. Don't know what your race paces are? The instructors provide exact treadmill speeds and inclines, so you're not doing complicated math while you run.

And because the app syncs directly with the Apple Watch, it can project the distances and biometric data of anyone who's ever taken a class before onto a leaderboard to provide that group element even if you're running alone in your basement. (You can also run untracked without the Apple Watch.)

iTunes ; free two-week trial, $14.99 per month, $99.99 per year

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4. Aaptiv

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Treadmill workouts are the top class category on Aaptiv and range in skill levels so newbie runners have just as many options as marathoners. Some trainers push technical form, others are popular among those people who are race training, and some just like to have fun. Before you choose a run, you can check out all the details in the app, including estimated distance, peak speed, peak incline, and music style (all classes are recorded with the music blended in), so you know what you're getting yourself into.

iTunes , Google Play ; free 7-day trial, $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year

5. Treadmill Trails

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If you're truly not a fan of slogging out indoors with only limited TV channels or a blank wall to stare at, head outside in the virtual world with Treadmill Trails. The 30-minute routes take you everywhere from Hudson River Park in New York City to Mt. Kilimanjaro. There are minimal coaching cues beyond "speed up" and "slow down," so you can layer your own music over the narrator without missing much. Once you download a video (it can take a minute or two), it's stored right in your camera roll so you can access it with or without wifi.

iTunes and Google Play ; $0.99 for each 30-minute video

6. Zwift

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The popular indoor cycling app Zwift recently expanded to include running, and now treadmill users can navigate the slightly surreal-looking courses (picture a futurist New York City) via an animated avatar. You'll need a Bluetooth-equipped treadmill, or cadence tracker (such as Stryd, a foot pod that clips to your shoe and tracks both cadence and power or the Zwift RunPod, which just tracks cadence) to monitor your vitals, which the screen displays in real-time as your pounding the "pavement." You can also add a heart rate monitor for more data. The display is a little clunkier and hard to navigate than more sophisticated apps, but it's cool to watch your avatar mimic your movements, and it adds a game-like element to running indoors.

iTunes and Google Play ; free

7. PulseTread

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For those looking for a quick workout, or if high-intensity interval (HIIT) workouts are your thing, check out PulseTread. You'll get a new, trainer-led, 30-minute treadmill workout on your phone every day. Class formats vary day to day, but include a 30-minute workout and 10/10/10 or 15/15-minute set formats, which allow for strength-training intervals between sets. You'll be able to jam to your downloaded playlists, podcasts, or other music app like Spotify while you workout. If you're using your own music, you can separately control the volume of the instruction and your music from the app.

If you want to just try a workout every now and then, you can purchase the daily workout for 99 cents. If you want the option to do more than one, you can subscribe monthly or yearly for an even cheaper way to access a new workout each day.

iTunes; $0.99 for each 30-minute video, $4.99 a month, or $39.99 a year

9. iFit

If you're stuck working out inside as the weather cools down and your gym remains closed, iFit has you covered for both on- and off-the-tread workouts. You'll have access to over 100 trainers, cardio, HIIT, yoga, and strength training classes. You can also cue up the Global Training feature, which will have you (virtually) working out in some of the most epic destinations across the globe (imagine your screen moving through the actual Boston Marathon course, Central Park in New York City, or a Kenyan Elephant Safari as you run).

And, if your treadmill is iFit enabled, the machine will automatically adjust the treadmill's settings in real-time during your workout.

iTunes and Google Play; free 30-day trial, then $15 a month

8. Zombies, Run!

Let's face it: 2020 has felt apocalyptic at times. Why not embrace that, and use it to make your runs more interesting with the Zombies, Run! app. If you're bored logging miles on the treadmill, what's more motivating than outrunning zombies to save your life?

Hop on the treadmill and start up the app. (You can also use it outside.) Soon, you'll be running away from creatures returning from the dead. You'll be able to hear them in your headphones as they get closer—encouraging you to knock out those intervals. You can also participate in virtual races.

iTunes and Google Play; free with in-app purchases

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Ashley Mateo Ashley Mateo is a writer, editor, and UESCA- and RRCA-certified running coach who has contributed to Runner's World, Bicycling, Women's Health, Health, Shape, Self, and more.

Jordan Smith Digital Editor Jordan Smith is a writer and editor with over 5 years of experience reporting on health and fitness news and trends.

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